The UK Security Shredding Association (UKSSA) is delighted to be celebrating its 25^th anniversary this month.

The Association – the only UK trade body entirely dedicated to the security shredding sector – was formed 25 years ago by a small group of businesses keen to raise standards in the security shredding sector.

UKSSA was incorporated in March 1998, the same year that the Data Protection Act came into force, creating increased interest in data protection and secure document disposal.

In the early days, UKSSA had six members who were united in their desire to come together to create and incorporate high standards for security shredding. Stuart Riccalton of Riverdale Paper was a key driving force behind this.

The six founding members were: Riverdale Paper PLC; Salter Paper Group; Smurfit Recycling; Bolton Brothers; P.R. Paper Services; and, Houghton Waste Paper.

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Since then, the Association has come a long way and membership has grown considerably to comprise both large corporates and family-owned and run businesses.

Key among UKSSA’s successes have been establishing a Code of Practice and standards which are meaningful, ensure full compliance with Data Protection and are independently audited – setting it apart from other trade bodies.

Today, UKSSA membership is the gold standard in the security shredding sector and provides 100% assurance to members’ customers that their legal obligations are being met.

Paul Caldwell, chair of UKSSA, said: “We are delighted to be marking our 25^th anniversary this month. Since the beginning, high standards have been at the core of what we are about and this is still very much our ethos today.

“Over the next 25 years we look forward to building on our reputation as the gold standard in security shredding and the only UK trade body entirely dedicated to the data destruction industry.”